Preview Roundups
February 06, 2016
Portland at Houston 5:00 PM ET
The Portland Trail Blazers are trying to earn a spot among the top eight in the Western Conference but are having a difficult time beating teams with winning records. The Trail Blazers will get another chance to do just that when they begin a stretch of four straight against winning teams by visiting the Houston Rockets on Saturday.
Washington at Charlotte 7:00 PM ET
John Wall and the Washington Wizards have a small dose of momentum as they begin a three-game road trip at the Charlotte Hornets on Saturday. Wall followed up his season-high 41-point performance in a loss to Golden State with his fourth career triple-double in Friday's 106-94 win over Philadelphia.
Detroit at Indiana 7:00 PM ET
Injuries have provided an opportunity for rookies Stanley Johnson and Darrun Hilliard to help the Detroit Pistons hold onto one of the final Eastern Conference playoff spots, and so far the duo is doing their part. Johnson and Hilliard combined for 28 points in Thursday’s victory over New York, and both will be counted on Saturday with Detroit visits the Indiana Pacers without guards Jodie Meeks and Kentavious Caldwell-Pope remain sidelined.
New Orleans at Cleveland 7:30 PM ET
The Eastern Conference-leading Cleveland Cavaliers look to rebound 24 hours after a stunning loss as they host the New Orleans Pelicans on Saturday. The Cavaliers, who have dropped two straight after a five-game winning streak, coughed up a four-point lead in the final seven seconds to lose 104-103 to Boston on Avery Bradley’s 3-pointer at the buzzer.
Brooklyn at Philadelphia 7:30 PM ET
The Brooklyn Nets are coming off their highest-scoring performance of the season and now take aim at the worst defensive team in the Eastern Conference when they visit the Philadelphia 76ers on Saturday. Joe Johnson scored 27 points and Brook Lopez had 26 as Brooklyn shot 55.8 percent - also a season high - in a 128-119 win over Sacramento on Friday.
Dallas at Memphis 8:00 PM ET
The Memphis Grizzlies seek their sixth consecutive victory and 10th in 11 games when they host the Dallas Mavericks on Saturday. The Grizzlies posted a 91-85 win over the New York Knicks on Friday to reach 30 wins in 50 games or less for just the third time in franchise history.
Chicago at Minnesota 8:00 PM ET
The Chicago Bulls are expected to be without All-Star guard Jimmy Butler when they visit the Minnesota Timberwolves on Saturday after their leading scorer suffered a sprained right knee Friday in Denver. The injury was a precursor to a disastrous night for Chicago, which blew a 16-point fourth-quarter lead and was outscored 42-21 in the final period of a 115-110 loss to the Nuggets that dropped them to 2-3 on its season-high seven-game road trip.
L.A. Lakers at San Antonio 8:30 PM ET
Kobe Bryant has turned back the clock during the last three games and the Los Angeles Lakers certainly need another strong outing from the retiring veteran when they visit the San Antonio Spurs on Saturday. Bryant is averaging 29.3 points during the stretch, including a season-high 38 points against Minnesota on Tuesday.
Utah at Phoenix 9:00 PM ET
The Utah Jazz have won a season-best five consecutive games and try to add another to the ledger when they visit the downtrodden Phoenix Suns on Saturday. Utah completed a 5-1 homestand with an 84-81 victory over the Milwaukee Bucks on Friday and attempts to keep the momentum going on a four-game road trip.
Oklahoma City at Golden State 9:00 PM ET
Golden State Warriors star Stephen Curry is coming off a 51-point explosion and is looking forward to a weekend that ends with his beloved Carolina Panthers playing in the Super Bowl on Sunday. Curry will need to keep some focus on the basketball court on Saturday, when the red-hot Oklahoma City Thunder visit the Warriors.